It's been only four months since volleyball star Melissa Vargas began representing Türkiye, but her impact has been nothing short of immediate: two tournaments, two wins.
The Cuban-born opposite has been instrumental for the 'Sultans of the Net' leading them to success first in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL), and then in this summer's European Championship. And on both occasions, she was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the event.
Vargas's addition has provided an extra boost for the Turkish women's volleyball team, who's ascended to the summit of the women's world rankings under the guidance of coach Daniele Santarelli.
Discover how this 23-year-old phenom became the missing piece in the Turkish puzzle.
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Melissa Vargas: The making of one of the world's finest volleyball players
Melissa Vargas was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, in 1999. She began playing volleyball at the tender age of eight, catching the attention of a physical education teacher at school who recognised her talent.
Vargas' progress was remarkably swift. At just 13, she made her debut with the Cuban national team, instilling hope for the future during a challenging period for the squad.
A year later, she was honoured as the "Best Opposite" at the U-23 Pan American Cup, competing against players nearly ten years her senior. By that time, Vargas was already regarded as the finest volleyball player in Cuba.
Before turning 15, she had already participated in her first World Championship. Zé Roberto, the esteemed coach of both Brazil’s men’s and women’s teams, who achieved Olympic champion status with both, commended Vargas, stating that she possessed all the attributes required to be one of the world's best players.
"She has strength, height, jump, and technically she is already above average. And she comes from a country that has a history of exceptional volleyball players", Zé Roberto sremarked in an interview with Cuba Si.
In 2015, at the senior Pan American Cup, Vargas emerged as the top scorer, earning recognition as the best server and best attacker. That same year, she also received the award for best spiker at the 2015 Pan American Games, all before her 16th birthday.
Melissa Vargas: Excelling abroad
Melissa Vargas left her home in Cuba at a young age to embark on her professional career. Initially, she played in Czechia and achieved success, winning both the domestic league and cup in the 2015-16 season with Prostějov. After a brief stint in Switzerland, Vargas joined the Turkish side Fenerbahce in 2018.
For the past two years, she has also been a key player for Tianjin Bohai Bank in the People's Republic of China. Last season, the 23-year-old secured league victories in both Türkiye and the People’s Republic of China, solidifying her status as one of the biggest stars in both countries.
After five seasons with Fenerbahce, Vargas was granted Turkish citizenship in 2021. In May of this year, she finally made her debut for the 'Sultans of the Net' after a two-year wait.
The addition of Vargas has exceeded Türkiye's expectations, and her teammates have warmly embraced her.
“She’s not only a great player, but also a great person,” said Turkish captain Eda Erdem according to volleyballworld.com. “She changed the team’s mood and is an incredible fighter on the court. We love her, we embraced her from the first day and showed her that she’s one of us.”
Vargas plays the same position as Turkish star Ebrar Karakurt. Initially, they were played separately, but Türkiye coach Santarelli made a bold yet successful move by shifting Karakurt to the outside hitter position during the VNL, allowing both to play simultaneously.
In her first international tournament since 2016, Vargas led the Turks to victory in the Volleyball Nations League, earning the title of MVP. Just a few weeks later, Turkiye defeated Serbia to claim the 2023 Women's European Volleyball Championship, once again with Vargas as the MVP, scoring an impressive 41 points in the final.
“What I found here is what every coach dreams of - very good players, who all work for the same goal,” Santarelli told volleyball.com after winning the VNL. “These are all extraordinary players, and our national federation has been very supportive. We got the job done here, but we must work to continue this way. It's just the beginning.”
At the Women’s Olympic Volleyball Qualifying Tournaments, Vargas and Türkiye aim to build upon their success in the previous two tournaments.
The 'Sultans of the Net' were drawn in Pool B, along with Japan, Brazil, Belgium, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Bulgaria, and Peru.
The tournament will conclude on 24 September.
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